Books and Literature

736,595 CONTRIBUTIONS

Suzanne has been a technical writer and editor for many years, and also taught writing, science fiction, and poetry at the university level. She has degrees in English and Educational Leadership, and currently works as the Senior Quality Manager for Answers.com. Suzanne is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day… (MORE)

They wanted to express pride in their own cultures and reject the cultures of the colonizing nations. apex: they wanted to present European readers with a more authentic por…trayal of African culture(MORE)

Postcolonialism refers to the discursive body of theory that avers the persistence of colonial practices, despite the disavowal of officially sanctioned colonial endeavo…rs. America's relationship with the Philippines, for instance. Despite the nation's ostensible nationhood, it remains politically and economically beholden to the "first-world." (MORE)

When it comes to Thai salads, there is an amazing variety of choice. From the famous [shredded green papaya salad](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/460306/perfecting-the-bal…ance-of-flavors-thai-green-papaya-salad#slide=1) to lesser-known selections such as this [pomelo and shrimp salad](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/1173253/thai-pomelo-salad-with-shrimp#slide=1), you can easily find the perfect choice to fit your mood. Thai salads are all variations on a common theme of a bold dressing with spicy and sour flavors and fresh Thai herbs. From this common starting point the possibilities are endless, demonstrated by the fact that five main categories of Thai salads have emerged based on various combinations. This article describes the different types of Thai salads and discusses their commonalities and differences, with links to common examples from each category so that you can try them yourself.A "yum" is the most common type of Thai salad. It features a single main ingredient such as seafood or meat mixed with a few Thai herbs such as shallots or red onion and cilantro. A simple dressing composed of lime juice, fish sauce, and Thai chilis is then mixed with the ingredients before serving. The main flavors of this salad are hot and sour, making it very bold and refreshing no matter what the main ingredient is. Some examples of yum salads include this squid salad and this [roasted eggplant salad](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/818094/thai-grilled-eggplant-salad-yum-makeua-yao#slide=1)."Tam" means to pound, so salads in this category feature main ingredients which have been slightly pounded to release their juices. The most well-known example of this is som tam, the shredded green papaya salad which features green papaya pounded together with long beans, tomatoes, peanuts, and dried shrimp, and flavored with lime juice, fish sauce, and Thai chilis. [Pomelo salad with shrimp](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/1173253/thai-pomelo-salad-with-shrimp#slide=1) and the young jackfruit salad known as tam kanun are other salads which can fit into this category."Plah" salads are sometimes referred to as herbal salads because they feature several fresh and finely sliced herbs such as lemongrass, mint, and kaffir lime leaves. The dressing for this type of salad is again mostly hot and sour, but does sometimes rely on flavors other than lime juice and Thai chilis, such as Thai roasted chili paste or even tamarind juice. The [grilled shrimp salad known as plah goong](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/1176533/thai-herbal-grilled-shrimp-salad-plah-goong#slide=1) is a great example of this type of Thai salad."Larb" salads are typically composed of ground meat mixed with cilantro, green onion, and [toasted rice powder](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/914616/ingredient-spotlight-toasted-rice-powder#slide=1) and are dressed with lime juice, fish sauce, and ground dried Thai chilis. The smoky flavor of the dried chilis and toasted rice powder helps to differentiate larb from other Thai salads. Pork and chicken are common choices for the ground meat, but liver and other organ meats are also popular in Thailand. [Larb](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/686944/party-perfect-appetizers-thai-chicken-salad-larb-lettuce-cups#slide=1) is often eaten with a side of fresh vegetables and a container of sticky rice."Nam tok" literally translates to waterfall and refers to the fall of juices from a piece of meat being grilled. Once the meat is grilled, it is sliced very finely and combined with the seasonings typically used to make larb, including dried chilis and toasted rice powder. Therefore, [nam tok salads](http://recipes.answers.com/recipe/1177833/thai-beef-waterfall-salad-neua-nam-tok#slide=1) can be thought of as a variation of larb, using sliced rather than ground meat. Beef is the most popular choice for this type of salad, although pork is also used.These salads exemplify the typical Thai balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. The interplay of these flavors makes any one of these recipes irresistible, but with so many delicious options the possibilities are endless.Although "yum" literally translates to "to mix" or "to toss", it is often used generally in reference to Thai salads.(MORE)

Motifs and themes are sometimes used interchangeably when discussing literature. Although they often share a relationship, they are defined as different devices that can be fo…und at varying points in a work of literature. Understanding the meanings of these words will help readers discover more depth in literary works.Motifs are words, phrases, ideas, images, objects, or actions that reoccur within a work, and they serve to unify a work by linking ideas together and helping to create the mood or tone of the story. To find motifs, try noticing any patterns of repetition for these possible elements within the writing.In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," the title character, along with his wife Lady Macbeth, kills his kinsman, the king, to obtain the crown. To maintain the throne of Scotland, Macbeth commits numerous other murders along the way. Two of the recurring motifs in this play are blood and hallucinations working together to set the ominous tone. Just before Macbeth kills the king, he has a vision of a simple floating dagger that he tries to grasp. Halfway through speaking to this hallucination, the dagger becomes bloodstained, "...and on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood" (II.ii.45), and seemingly leads him to the king's chambers. Macbeth understands that this vision is the result of knowing he is about to perform a heinous crime that his wife is pushing him to carry out. Macbeth experiences another hallucination after learning that his hired assassins successfully slaughtered Banquo, Macbeth's comrade, at night. At the feast Macbeth holds that same evening, Banquo's ghost appears only to Macbeth and rattles him so much that Macbeth addresses the spirit in an apparent fit of insanity and surprises all his other guests with his behavior. From what we can infer about the ghost's description, "Never shake/ Thy gory locks at me," (III.iv.54) and "...that/ Which might appall the devil," (III.iv.63), we can assume that Banquo's new form is bloody and disfigured, much like his corpse that was left to rot in a ditch.By the end of the play, we see the final hallucination, except this time it happens to Lady Macbeth. While sleepwalking, her nightly habit, Lady Macbeth is seen rubbing her hands together trying to wash them of the blood she and her husband have spilled. "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (V.i.25) depicts Lady Macbeth's frustration with the memories of the murders, and the metaphoric blood on her hands that she still sees. In this same scene, she utters other images of blood such as "Yet who would/ have thought the old man to have had so much blood in/ him," (V.i.28) and "Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of/ Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." (V.i.34)The repetition of these dual motifs occurs throughout the play. By analyzing the scenarios and interpreting them in the context of the entire work, readers will more than likely derive from them one or more themes of the play.Themes can be defined as the underlying messages about life or human nature that authors convey through their works. Most authors do not explicitly state the themes they want readers to understand; rather, based on the outcomes of events and the patterns of motifs, readers can make inferences as to the message being communicated.Applying this concept to the description of blood/hallucination images in "Macbeth," you will notice a pattern of behavior developing in the characters. These images are symbolic of the character's consciences; Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ignore any semblance of morality throughout their murderous rampage. Based on their reactions to the visions, you can infer that guilt is the root cause of these experiences. Taking this interpretation one step further means understanding the message Shakespeare intended his audience to learn. One conclusion you might reach is that guilt can lead to a character's deterioration: this then becomes a theme for the play. Macbeth's nerves are shaken after he murders the king and sees the ghost of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth is so consumed with guilt that she commits suicide."To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee also depicts multiple motifs and themes. In this novel, Scout Finch and her brother Jem tirelessly pursue the truth about Arthur "Boo" Radley, the neighborhood recluse. The biggest question the children have is why no one has seen Radley in many years and, being children, they concoct numerous tales to explain the mystery. In the end, Radley covertly saves both children from a potentially tragic fate and after Scout walks him home, she stands on his front porch and reflects, "Atticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough." In this case, Scout explicitly provides the reader with one of the novel's intended messages.There are two other forms of themes that can emerge from literature. Recurring themes are those that appear in multiple works by different authors. With these, it is interesting to note how predominantly different stories arrive at a common message. Universal themes are messages that appear in literature from all different time periods. This study looks at how the beliefs and attitudes of one time period are still valued in other time periods.Both themes and motifs are important aspects of literature. Recognizing patterns of motifs can help readers focus more closely on character motivations or on interpreting potential symbols. Themes, often solidified by the end of the entire work, convey the profound idea the author has deemed valuable for readers to learn. Ultimately, identifying each will enhance a reader's experience with the literature.(MORE)

The theme in literature is the big idea that holds the piece together. Some novels may have more than one theme, but at least one theme can be found in every work of literatur…e since before Shakespeare's time. While scholars argue about how many themes exist, these are a few of the most common themes found in literature. Here are a few examples of common themes and books in which they can be found. In this theme, a person battles against the forces of the natural world. The central character may become lost in the woods, buried in an avalanche or stuck on the slopes of a volcano. One novel that uses this theme is Herman Melville's "Moby Dick." The central character, Captain Ahab, searches for and duels the great white whale. Sometimes the main character or hero of a work has some inner conflict that he or she must face and overcome. The conflict may be a moral dilemma or a character defect. Examples of this theme may be found in Stephen Crane's "Red Badge of Courage" in which an army deserter must acknowledge and fight his inner fear of battle, and in Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" as Jane struggles with her conscience and her love for Mr. Rochester. George Orwell's "1984" provides an example of the theme of man battling society. An over-powerful and oppressive government is the main character's chief adversary. In works with this theme, one single person opposes the conventions or traditions of the people and society around him or her. Jane Austen's works are great examples of the theme that love conquers all. Her novels show that class differences, ideology, manners and misunderstandings can all be overcome by the power of love. Books with this theme often end with a wedding or a happy couple riding off into the metaphorical sunset. There are many examples of the theme of the hero's journey. Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn," Homer's "The Odyssey," and Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" all have a central character who travels and is transformed by that travel. The main character may be on a quest or on an accidental journey, but the process and events of that travel cause a change in the main character's world view. These are a few examples of themes commonly found in popular works of literature. The theme is one of the main elements of literature along with style, plot, character and setting. Once you have identified a theme, it is easier to understand a work of literature. A popular 1987 documentary, "The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campell," explores literary themes as they relate to Campbell's study of mythological writing. This film is often screened in high school literature classes as a supplement to the topic of literary themes."While scholars argue about how many themes exist, these are a few of the most common themes found in literature. Here are a few examples of common themes and books in which they can be found."(MORE)

Across the historical landscape of popular culture, there has always been a hailstorm of controversy surrounding the depiction of African American women. Whether she is being …displayed as pushy and disobedient or loud and overbearing, the images of African women that are usually fed into the psyche of beholders, is not one of a positive note. Today's over-the-top behaviors and attitudes that are shown on reality TV and on film are a far cry from the days of "The Cosby Show," where women of color were presented as highly-intelligent, sophisticated, and dignified, an in possession of an unobtrusive strength. More importantly, what is being presented today as the archetypes of women of color, as portrayed in popular culture, stands in vivid contrast to reality. Further insight into the issues and the challenges that these images provide goes as follows.One of the most prevalent images of the African woman that has been thrust into the status of being universally accepted is that of her physical features. On one hand, she is being portrayed as having unusually magnified facial features such as a wide nose, unnatural or "bad" hair, and even the overtly-curvy, albeit natural, body. Among the most highly-publicized cases of this portrayal in recent times are those of Rush Limbaugh who made comparisons of First Lady Michelle Obama to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover models, and Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), who also attacked the First Lady saying, "She lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself." The other side of this coin seems to go to extremes. Magazines and entertainment outlets have long used the techniques of airbrushing and image manipulation present a "safe" version of women of color. As it relates to the image of African American women, it is often done to lighten the skin, narrow the nose to appear more Euro-centric, and even to add color to the eyes and blond or light-colored hair to present a more pleasing visual. And as disturbing as this reality is, there is an even a more disturbing trend. It is one that Jezebel's Dodai Stewart describes as being, "a tired, troubling visual," and that is when the African American woman presents herself as being dangerous, wild, and exotic. With the enormous amounts of money involved, the argument can easily be made that all these tendencies are steeped in racism, and that the African woman is being subjectified, objectified, and otherwise classified as something that she is not, in an effort to make someone else rich.According to cultural anthropologist and UCLA Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Sherry Ortner, "the secondary status of woman in society is one of the true universals, a 'pan-cultural fact.'" With that thought in mind, it is easy to see how much worse for wear the woman of color, specifically the woman of African descent, is, in terms of how she is generally perceived. In popular media, the African American woman has typically been portrayed as in the role of either explicit subjugation or extreme passivity. Likewise, there is the case of the other extreme where she is presented as the obese, dark, complicated, angry, asexual mammy, the sex-starved Jezebel, or the abrasive and emasculating antagonist. But while these things are true, it may also be argued that the African American woman is willingly and freely placing herself in these roles by repeatedly accepting them. It is no question that Tyler Perry and his popular "Madea" franchise have reintroduced the world to the image of the black mammy. It is also no question that this franchise has become hugely successful, largely in part due to its predominantly African American audience. So if the images are being driven by both sides, as well as the largely African American audience, the question then automatically returns to who is to be blamed for the propagation of negative and otherwise misrepresentative images of African women.While people of non-African descent certainly have a heavy hand in molding the received and accepted images of the woman of African ancestry, the argument cannot fairly be made that this is the only hand at play. For any argument to be considered valid it must also take into account that all too often, it is the woman of African heritage who is opting to take the role. The decision to be made up in a certain way, to play a specific part in a movie, or live up to stereotypes, comes back to the individual who adds to the humiliating depictions of herself. Tracey Ross of Racialious points out that within the African American community, there is a clear history of "marginalizing and stereotyping" of its women. And in an expression of sheer exasperation, Korbin Miles of The Famuan stated that he believes that if these negatives images are what will continue to be displayed, then the African American woman "will be better off not being portrayed at all."From music to film, literature to athletics, even among the everyday woman, there are countless instances of African American women openly attacking each other for various reasons. And in today's era of advanced and far-reaching technology, it has only served to give strength to the problem. Take for instance the recent situation involving somewhat popular singer India Arie who felt it necessary to castigate actress Zoe Saldana for being offered the lead role in the biopic about famed singer Nina Simone, and describing her as looking "ridiculous." Her reasoning is that Ms. Saldana does not have the features that truly represent what Nina Simone looked like; therefore, the executives in charge of making the film should have chosen someone else. There was also the incident in which a very young Olympic champion, Gabriel "Gabby" Douglas, was criticized for her hair being improperly done. Conversely, singer Solange Knowles was also lambasted for the manner in which she chooses to wear her natural hair, with detractors referring to it as being "unkempt." All these were incidents that spilled out onto the globally-accessible social media scene, and each one included the African American woman illustrating to all in view, that she is perhaps, cantankerous. So for those who don't personally know, work with, or live among African American women, it then leaves room to wonder if in the case of what is shown on film and on TV, is it a case of art imitating life, or life imitating art.According to Oyeronke Oyewumi, associate professor of sociology at State University of New York at Stony Brook, "The relationship between African women and feminism is a contentious one," and there seems to be two starkly different views. On one side, there is the adoption of an explanatory position that aims to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding. The hope is that people who are not of color will gain a better understanding of the cultural norms, behaviors, and attitudes of women with an African heritage. There is also the feminist whose stance is one of eradicating all such images whether they are presented in magazines, on TV, in comic books, in film, or on any other platform. There is an apparent disconnect between the two sides as well as with the side of those whose belief it is that the gravity of this topic cannot be comprehended by outsiders; those feminists who are not of African heritage. Among the most hotly-debated topics is that of the dominance of Western men who are the primary driving force behind this dilemma. Whatever the position may be, what is not clear is the inability to come to any conclusion on an approach that will please all sides, or a method for finally terminating the grossly erroneous and racist images of African women that has always been portrayed.Historically speaking, from the era of slavery all the way up into the 21st century, the image of the African woman has always been one that has been skewed to serve the agendas of others. From issues of skin-bleaching and photo airbrushing, stereotypical roles of mammy to the so-called "strong black woman," and the over-sexed Jezebel, the African American woman has hardly seen the light of any dignified role. The primary party seen as being blameworthy for this epidemic is the male-dominated, money-making machines of Hollywood who continue to find ways of capitalizing off the negative images of women of African ancestry. But also to blame are the women who accept the roles that showcase every stereotype from the unnecessarily boisterous matriarch to the easy-going, racially ambiguous African American woman. Add to this the disunity and uncertainty among the feminist ranks, and it becomes more apparent that a change for the better is nowhere near.Reality shows are among the worst purveyors of the negative images of African women. And among the seemingly most offensive titles are, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" and "Basketball Wives." These two highly popular shows present weekly doses of catfights, name calling, the use of exclusionary tactics against each other, and in some cases, fist fights. The reality of these reality shows is that they present a decayed view of how African American women, in general, behave and interact socially, both within and outside of the African American community.(MORE)

Canada has a vast wilderness that provides an ideal setting for stories of survival. As a result, Man vs. Nature is a common theme in Canadian literature. The force of nat…ure is used as either a villain and main obstacle, or it could involve a deus ex machina that allows some act of nature to become the savior. (MORE)